They may look formidable and complicated, but culinary faucets are no longer reserved for the culinary pros. They’ve slowly made their way into residential kitchens, and manufacturers have adjusted their designs accordingly. Culinary (or professional) faucets are the perfect choice for the serious at-home cook, the retired or off-duty pro chef, the food enthusiast, and the style connoisseur alike.

Culinary faucets are primarily made for heavy-duty use. They feature a spring-loaded or flexible high-arc silhouette for far-reaching cleaning, industrial-strength sprayhead for thorough rinsing, and a single-lever control for easy use with dirty hands.

Due to their newfound popularity, these faucets are now available in a huge range of finishes and styles, featuring heads and spouts in different shapes and sizes for a more minimalist or more elegant look (and practically every look in between). If your kitchen is small or you don’t do that much cooking (but still love the look), pick a semi-professional faucet or a smaller-scale culinary faucet.

Culinary faucets make a dramatic statement in modern kitchens and are best paired with a sleek stainless steel sink.

True professionals who cook on a large scale should consider a culinary faucet with a dual spout, which functions as a prep faucet and regular faucet in one unit.

How much cooking takes place in your kitchen?